acquit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
acquits,
present (3rd person singular)
-
acquitted,
past participle, past
-
acquitting
present participle
-
to relieve from a charge of fault or crime; declare not guilty.
They acquitted him of the crime. The jury acquitted her, but I still think she's guilty.
- Antonyms:
- convict
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to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.
- Synonyms:
- free
-
to settle or satisfy (a debt, obligation, claim, etc.).
-
to bear or conduct (oneself); behave.
He acquitted himself well in battle.
-
to free or clear (oneself).
He acquitted himself of suspicion.
verb
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(foll by of)
-
to free or release (from a charge of crime)
-
to pronounce not guilty
-
-
(foll by of) to free or relieve (from an obligation, duty, responsibility, etc)
-
to repay or settle (something, such as a debt or obligation)
-
to perform (one's part); conduct (oneself)
Synonym Usage
See absolve.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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acquitsimple
-
acquitssimple
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have acquittedperfect
-
has acquittedperfect
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am acquittingprogressive
-
are acquittingprogressive
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is acquittingprogressive
-
have been acquittingperfect progressive
-
has been acquittingperfect progressive
Past
-
acquittedsimple
-
had acquittedperfect
-
was acquittingprogressive
-
were acquittingprogressive
-
had been acquittingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of acquit
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English aquiten, from Anglo-French, Old French (ac)quiter, derivative, with a(c)- “toward” ( see ac-), from quite “free of obligations,” from Medieval Latin quit(t)us, Latin quiētus ( see quiet); cf. quit 1
Explanation
To acquit someone is to clear them of charges. Acquitting also has to do with how you carry or present yourself. If you're accused of a crime, then the best thing that can happen to you is being acquitted — that means you were cleared or exonerated of the charges. A defense lawyer wants to have his client acquitted. But watch out for another unrelated meaning: acquitting can mean how you behave, conduct, or carry yourself. If you acquit yourself like a champion, then you're acting like a champion.
Vocabulary lists containing acquit
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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And Then There Were None
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If they agree to do so, the judges may dismiss the appeal or uphold it, in which case they may order a new trial or acquit her.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
The lawyer for Lindsay Clancy urged a judge Tuesday to acquit the US mother accused of murdering her three children after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the high-profile case.
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
Defense attorney Errol Cook urged jurors to acquit his client of murder.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
In the criminal justice system, jurors are entitled to acquit defendants by deliberately rejecting evidence or refusing to apply the law, often by substituting their own sense of fairness—a concept known as jury nullification.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
Wishing to acquit my honor, I stood firm and handed my musket to Slant, who blinked in soft concern.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Typically, a jury acquits because the prosecution has failed to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2024
Yaeger acquits himself quite well, playing a not-too-bright cop who is caught between Reynold’s cult-like stranglehold on the town and his own need for self-preservation.
From Salon ● Jan. 19, 2024
She acquits herself well, telling a story of persistence and courage that's laced with dry self-awareness and humour.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2023
Osborne acquits himself well on the court, demonstrating skills he learned while playing basketball in college and professionally in Australia.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 11, 2023
Henceforth the tyrant sin has no claim on us, for death closes all scores and acquits of all claims.
From St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, Vol. I A Practical Exposition by Charles Gore
If millions are wagered on the belief that a defendant will be acquitted, could that make a jury more reluctant to convict?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
The Texas Senate ultimately acquitted him on the impeachment charges.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
“They acquitted themselves well,” coach Jim Harbaugh said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Since its establishment, the court has convicted 15 people, with four acquitted.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
When the case came to trial, Goetz was easily acquitted on charges of assault and attempted murder.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
Middleton was reportedly one of several senators considering voting to convict Paxton, although he ultimately joined the majority in acquitting him.
From Salon ● May 23, 2026
Garcia's opportunities have been limited this season despite acquitting himself well in the United States and he proved himself again.
From Barron's ● Jan. 4, 2026
Trial juries engage in nullification much more frequently, acquitting a defendant because they believe the prosecution to be unjust.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2025
As the sound of the "not guilty" rung out in the courtroom for the first time, acquitting Combs of the most severe crime of racketeering, the rapper kept his head low.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
He was exceedingly sorry for his mother, and often longed to see her and above all to tell her of his wonderful new life, and how brilliantly he was acquitting himself in it.
From Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
